You were lifting heavy supplies at your job when you badly hurt your back. Thankfully, workers’ comp helped pay for spinal surgery and weeks of rehab. Now you’ve been medically cleared to return to work, but on “light duty.” Meaning no lifting, long hours on your feet, or vehicles shifts anymore. What happens if tailored restrictions for your job simply don’t exist? Are you out of luck income-wise? Can any new employers fire you instantly for physical limitations because of work injuries? Knowing job protections and next steps is vital to moving forward.
- You Can Earn Wages. Strong laws prevent you from losing new wages just because of lingering work injuries. Any role you now interview for must legally provide “reasonable accommodations” enabling you to perform its core duties without exacerbating past documented health conditions.
- You Get Help to Do the Job. For example, employers must offer shifts that align with when you need to take your medication. They also would provide special equipment, occasional breaks, and technology assistance, and they would delegate heavier tasks to other people—so long as these accommodations don’t represent “undue hardship” for them as a business.
- What If You Need More? If after earnest attempts on both sides the accommodation isn’t enough or available in potential jobs, you can seek formal retraining support for an entirely new career path better suited to current abilities. Work injuries don’t have to stand in the way of developing your skills and moving on.
Workers’ comp laws ensure you can earn steady paychecks again doing satisfying work that keeps prior injuries stabilized. No field wants to see capable experience sidelined. If you’ve suffered work injuries and need guidance on asking for protection at work, give us a call.